+ Both of IU’s 2011 commitments, Austin Etherington (pictured) and Matt Carlino, played well. Carlino’s shot reportedly looked much better than it did over the summer.

+ 2011 Muncie Central guard Jeremiah Davis attended the camp and the buzz continues to be that IU is in great shape with him. Davis is an AAU teammate of Etherington on Indiana Elite Team Indiana.

+ Current NBA players Eric Gordon, Steve Novak and Jared Jeffries all attended the camp. Both Novak and Jeffries spoke to the campers and Novak was spotted in IU shorts.

+ 2012 campers: Lawrence Central’s Jeremy Hollowell, Southport’s Kellon Thomas, Bloomington South’s T.J. Bell and Menomonee Falls (WI)’s J.P. Tokoto. Ron Patterson did not attend and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera is spending the weekend taking unofficial visits.

+ 2013 campers: Jeffersonville’s Darryl Baker and North Oldham (KY)’s Darryl Hicks. I had a chance to see both players over the summer and they both have a chance to be special. Jody Demling of The Louisville-Courier-Journal is reporting that Indianapolis Cathedral’s Collin Hartman and Brent and Bryson Scott of Ft. Wayne Northup attended.

+ 2011 guard/forward Aaron Thomas from Cincinnati Aiken (OH) is in Bloomington this weekend, but we’re not sure if he played in the camp. The IU staff followed Thomas closely in July at the Kentucky Hoopfest.

+ Indianapolis Pike’s Marquis Teague did not make it to the camp and all signs continue to point toward Louisville for Teague.

+ 2011 Gary Lew Wallace standout Branden Dawson opted to attend Marquette’s ’specialty’ camp according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Significant here is that Dawson is considered a Purdue lean and the Boilermakers also held a camp of their own on Saturday. The Journal Sentinel report also claims that Michael Cobbins, Vander Blue, Reggie Smith, Jeremy Lamb and DeJuan Marrero attended the Marquette camp.

And several players being pursued by Indiana made the list.

Matt Carlino, the only player committed to Indiana in the 2011 class, is No. 72. Carlino recently transferred from Highland (AZ) to Bloomington South and is playing this spring with Indiana Elite.

Among the notables (High school and AAU team in parentheses):

+ Marquis Teague (Indianapolis Pike; Spiece): No. 6

+ Branden Dawson (Gary Lew Wallace, SYF Players): No. 26

+ Marshall Plumlee (Arden Christ School, NC; Indiana Elite): No. 35

+ Chasson Randle (Rock Island, IL; Illinois Wolves): No. 49

+ Austin Etherington (Hamilton Heights; Indiana Elite): No. 57

+ Cody Zeller (Washington HS; Indiana Elite): No. 59

Rivals.com also released an updated version of their 2011 rankings.

That said, let’s take a look at the names being frequently mentioned in Indiana’s 2011 recruiting efforts:

– Marquis Teague – Depending on who you talk to, Indiana’s chances to land Teague range from coming on strong to a longshot. Where the Hoosiers actually stand is anybody’s guess. Teague’s talent is undeniable. He is an excellent ball handler and can both score and distribute from the point guard position. And he’s already ready physically for the rigors of the Big Ten. His only knocks? An attitude that sometimes doesn’t endear him to officials and a jumpshot that is still improving. In the end, Teague possesses the talent to be special.

– Cody Zeller – I’ve watched Zeller twice this spring and came away impressed after watching him in the adidas May Classic. He’s a legitimate 6-9 and still growing. And as is usually the case with big men, he’s tweaking his game to adjust to his changing physique. Zeller is a heady player who can be a little too unselfish at times, but his skills in the post are very good. If he can improve his strength over the next two years, he’ll be a difference maker.

– Marshall Plumlee – Despite having two older brothers at Duke, Plumlee isn’t a lock to head to Durham. Indiana figures to play a pivotal role in his recruitment and he told a group of reporters at the adidas May Classic that he likes Tom Crean’s plan to rebuild the program. Like Zeller, he’s still adjusting his near 7-foot frame to a developing game.

– Branden Dawson – If Indiana wants to make a statement about recruiting in the northwest corner of the state, Dawson should be at the top of the list. As a sophomore at Gary Lew Wallace, he averaged 16.7 points and 15.5 rebounds. There’s a lot to like about his game: he’s athletic, long and plays with a lot of energy. And most importantly, you can tell he genuinely enjoys playing hard and competing.

– Jeremiah Davis – The Muncie Central point guard made national waves when then-Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie offered a scholarship shortly after his freshman year. Indiana has also offered and Crean watched Davis workout last month. He’s a powerful point guard that can make plays off the dribble. His decision making is a bit erratic at times, but he’s got the talent to be an impact player in the Big Ten.

– Keep an eye on: Darwin Davis Jr. and Spencer Turner. Neither Bloomington South player holds an Indiana offer, but Davis is starting to garner national attention with his play this spring. Turner is an elite shooter. Austin Etherington, who missed half of last season after knee surgery, has the attention of the Indiana staff. The 6-5 Hamilton Heights wing can fill it up. Indiana Elite’s Deng Leek is an athletic seven-footer who is still learning the game. But you can’t teach size and Leek can run the floor, block shots and finish. Chesterton and SYF Players 6-9 forward Mitch McGary is still rounding into form after returning from a broken left wrist and hopes to attend the IU elite camp.

After a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 16.7 points, 15.5 rebounds and four assists, the 6-6 Dawson is quickly gaining the attention of several high major programs, including Indiana.

“Indiana has offered,” Dawson said in Assembly Hall at the adidas May Classic. “I love Indiana. I came down here and visited once and I just love the atmosphere. They hustle, they play hard, they never give up. They just keep playing hard.”

Besides IU and Purdue, Dawson holds offers from UCLA, Georgetown and Minnesota. He’s also hearing from Butler, Iowa State, Xavier, Cincinnati and IUPUI.

Dawson hopes to see Bloomington again this summer and it might be in the company of his Lew Wallace teammates.

“My high school coach is trying to come down here for a team camp,” Dawson said. “I want to come, so I hope we make it and come down here and have fun.”

Scouting report: Dawson is long and extremely athletic which makes him a perfect candidate to be an impact player on the wing. He didn’t shoot much from the outside at the adidas May Classic, but he looked good in transition and also hit the boards hard. He’s already a very good prospect and with some work on his defense and ball handling, could become great.